agrarian, giddy, inconclusive, meditative, sluggish: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 302. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. agrarian · adjective/əˈɡrɛriən/

   relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land

   The agrarian landscape was dotted with thriving farms and lush fields of crops.

   Synonyms: rural, agricultural, farming

   Origin: from Latin 'agrarius', which means 'of land' or 'of the fields', derived from 'ager' meaning 'field, land'.

2. giddy · adjective/ˈɡɪdi/

   feeling light-headed or overly joyful often to the point of being silly

   After winning the lottery, she felt so giddy that she couldn't stop laughing and dancing around the room.

   Synonyms: light-headed, dizzy, frivolous

   Origin: Middle English 'gidde', related to the Old Norse 'gaddr' meaning 'to be dizzy or to spin'.

3. inconclusive · adjective/ɪn.kənˈklu.sɪv/

   not leading to a firm conclusion or result

   The evidence from the investigation was inconclusive, leaving many questions unanswered about the incident.

   Synonyms: indeterminate, uncertain, ambiguous

   Origin: from Latin 'inconclusivus', meaning 'not concluding', from 'in-' (not) + 'concludere' (to close, finish).

4. meditative · adjective/ˈmɛdəˌteɪtɪv/

   relating to or characterized by meditation or contemplation

   She found the meditative atmosphere of the garden perfect for her daily yoga practice.

   Synonyms: contemplative, reflective, pensive

   Origin: from Latin 'meditativus', from 'meditari' which means 'to meditate'

5. sluggish · adjective/ˈslʌɡɪʃ/

   moving or operating more slowly than usual

   After a long night of studying, I felt sluggish in the morning and struggled to get out of bed.

   Synonyms: lethargic, slow, torpid

   Origin: Middle English 'sluggisch', from 'slug' (a lazy person) + '-ish' (adjective suffix), possibly related to the Old Norse 'slugga' meaning 'to strike or hit'.